Overview

NetBackup provides high-performance backups and restores for a variety of platforms, including Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and NetWare systems.

Administrators can set up schedules for automatic, unattended backups for clients anywhere in the network. These backups can be full or incremental and are managed entirely by the NetBackup master server.

Users can start backups and restores from the computer where they are working. A user can also archive files. An archive operation backs up a file and then deletes it from the local disk if the backup is successful. Once started, user operations are managed by the NetBackup server.

NetBackup's Media Manager software manages the media and storage devices. Robots require no intervention on the part of the administrator, operator, or the user. Standalone drives (those not in a robot) that contain appropriate media also require no intervention.

NetBackup includes both the server and client software:

• Server software is on the computer that manages the storage devices.
• Client software is on the computer whose data you want to back up. A server also has client software and can be backed up like other clients.

NetBackup servers and clients can be any one of a number of platform types as described in the data sheets and release notes for the product.

During a backup or archive, the client sends backup data across the network to a NetBackup server that has the type of storage specified for the client. The storage requirement is specified during NetBackup configuration (for example, 4 mm tape).

During a restore, users can browse and then select the files and directories that they want to recover. NetBackup finds the selected files and directories and restores them to the disk on the client.